Process and apparatus for producing crackled glassware



July 3, 1928 D. L.- MIDDENDORF PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CRACKLED GLASSWARE Original Filed 2 2 Sheets-Sheet Dav/Ta Z. Mile 114M INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

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- D. L. MIDDENDORF PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING CRACKLED GLASSWARE 3 Filed 192.6 2, Sheets-Sheet 2 flay/a Z. M/d/e/mar/ INVENTOR.

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Patented July 3, 1928.

UNZTED STATES DAVID L. MIDDENDORF, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR 'lO THE FEDERAL GLASS coar- PANY, F COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

PIRQCESS AND APPARATUS FOR ERODUCI'NG CRACKLED GLASSWARE.

original application filed February 4, 1926, Serial No. 85,872. Divided and this application filed June 23.,

192s. Serial No. 117,357.

My invention relates broadly to a process and apparatus for producing crackled glassware and more particularly to a method of covering either or both surfaces of a blank with a network of fine lines and cracks which are subsequently enlarged when the blank is shaped to final form.

Heretofore, in the. manufacture of imita tion crackled glassware, it has been the practies to form the articles in a mold having a provision of a method and apparatus forv manufacturing crackled or crazed glassware, i. e., glassware the surface ofwhich is covered with a network of fine cracks and grooves.

This application is a division of my application, filed February 4, 1926, Serial No. 85,872, Process and apparatus "for producing c 'ackled glassware.

Other objects of my invention will ap pear "from the following description and its various features are illustrated in the accompanying: drawings wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts in the several figures and'wherein-- Figurev 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a glass forming machine showing the press and blow molds and the location of my novel mold and blank spraying device with reference thereto;

Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of crackled glass articles produced according to my method;

l igur'e 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a blank forming mold in position under a spraying nozzle;

Figure 5 is an elevational view, partly in section. showing, a blank forming mold, pressing plunger, ring mold and pressed parison;

Figure 6 is an elevational view, partly section, showings blow mold having a parison positioned therein under a spraying nozzle;

Figure 7 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a blow mold having, a blown parison therein and ablow head 00- acting with the mold; and

Figure 8 is a partly sectional elevational view showing the interior of the atomizer.

In the drawings, one illustrative embodiment of my invention is shown in association with a glass forming machine of the press and blow type which comprises a mold carrying table 1, upon which the parison or blank molds 2 and the blow molds 3 are alternately arranged in a substantially circular path about the center post 4.

Forming machines or" the press and blow type are usually provided with a reciprocable plunger 5 and ring mold 6 (Figure 5) which are adapted to cooperate with the blank molds 2 to press a blow blank or pari- 'son 7 having a. head portion 5%, from a previously deposited mass of glass. Fluitable quantities of molten glass may be deposited in the successively presented blank molds'Q in'any approved manner, as For instance, bvan automatic feeding machine or manually.

After the blow blank 7 and its head portion 8 have been formed as just describer, the plunger 5 and ring mold 6 may he elevated and the reciprocable ejector 9 operatedto lift the blow blank "I and head 8 out of contact with the blank mold 2. Suitable transfer mechanism may now come into operation and lift the blank 7 completely out of the blank mold 2 and deposit it in a blow mold 3, the shape of which varies according to the size and shape of the articles being produced.

The blow mold 3 is preferably but not necessarily.- of the non-sectional type and may be provided with a neck ring yoke or sectional cover member 10 and ll formed with eomf :plementary shoulders 12 and 13 which are adapted to support the blow blank T by its head portion 8 in the manner shown in Fig ure 6. After the blow blank 7 has been positioned within the blow mold 3, as shown in Fi tire 6 a suitable fluid iressure blow head 14- may be moved onto the cover members 10 and 11 and the blank expanded or blown into forming contact with the mold 23, to

form an integral article 15, hood portion 16 and bead 8 as shown in Figure 7. Air or' other suitable fluid may be utilized for expanding or blowing the blank 7, and when the blowing has been completed, the blow head .14 may be elevated by means of a fluid pressure cylinder or other suitable means 17; the cover members 10 and 11 opened-by means of operating cams 18 and 19; the reciprocable ejector 20 elevated to raise the formed article out of contact with the blow mold 3 and the formed article then removed from the blow mold. In subsequent operations the formed article is annealed; the hood portion 16 and bead 8 cracked off along the line A--B; the top edges given a heat treatment and the article is then ready, for sale.

The structural features of the forming machine and its operation will not be described in detail because such description is unnecessary to an understanding of my invention. It may, however, be mentioned that the mold table 1 is given a step-by-step rotary motion by suitable mechanism (not shown) for carrying the press molds 2 and blow molds 3 to the successive stations where the different operations as above described are performed.

' Under some conditions it may be desirable to fire polish the interior of the blank 7 before it is blown, and for this purpose I may employ a fire head or burner 21 which is. preferably, vertically reciprocable above and in alignment with the blow mold 3 by means of a fluid pressure cylinder or other suitable device 22. In the operation of this burner 21, when a blow mold 3, in which a pressed blank 7 has been positioned, is carried under the burner 21, an intense flame issues therefrom and impinges upon the interior surface of the blank andimparts a brilliant finish to such surface before the blank is'blown in the manner previously described. It will be understood that the burner 21, or a similar device, may be employed for fire polishing the interior of the article after blowing and that such interior may be fire polished both before and after blowing if desired.

In connection with the above described process of manufacturing glass articles by' pressing and blowing, my invention contemplates a method and apparatus for crackling or crazing the exterior or interior surfaces or both surfaces of the article being produced. In general, my invention 'provides means for covering the exteriorsurface of a pressed blank with a network of fine lines or cracks which are subsequently enlarged when the blank is blown. Means is also provided forcrackling or crazing the interior surface of a pressed blank before blowing so that both the interior and exterior surfaces of an article may be crackled if de sired. It is understood that the particular embodiment of my invention hereafter described may be varied to accoimnodate it to different makes of forming machines and different types of ware.

In combination with the forming machine heretofore described, I have provided an atomizer-23 which comprises a nozzle 24, an air inlet-25 controlled by a suitable valve 26 and a water inlet27 controlled by a suitable valve 28. lVater and air are supplied to the respectiveinlets by conduits 29 and 30 and the entire atomizer may be supported above and in alignment vwith the path of the molds 2 and 3 by means of a bracket 31. A collar 32, secured in place upon-nozzle 24 by means of a set-screw 33, permits vertical adjust ment of the nozzle ,24 with respect to the blank molds'2 stop before the masses of glass are depositedtherein. By suitably ad usting the air valve 26 and the water valve 28 a mist or vapormay be expelled from the end of nozzle 24 as shown in Figure 4. This mist or vapor impinges upon the interior forming surface of the successively presented empty blank molds 2 (Figure 4) and results in chilling or cooling this surface to such an extent that when a mass of glass is deposited in the blank mold and pressed, the exterior surface of the resulting blank 7 will be covered with a network of fine lines and cracks 34, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6. These cracks and'lines 34 are confined to the surface and do not extend through the blank. The blank 7 may now be transferred to a blow mold 3 in the usual manner and blown, when the small lines and cracks 34 will be enlarged and widened by the stretching and expansion of the blank 7 during the blowing, The appearance of the blown articles is shown in Figure 7 and it will be noted that the cracks 35 are larger and wider than the cracks and lines 34 in the blow blank 7. The articles produced may be subsequently decorated by filling the cracks 35 to make inlaid glassware,

Since the blow molds 3 travel under the nozzle 24 after the pressed blanks have been positioned therein, it results that the inte: rior surface of the pressed blanks are also slightly cracked by the mist or vapor and these cracks are also enlarged during blowing, so that both the interior and exterior surfaces of the completed article are cracked or crazed. Obviously, this cracking of the interior may be prevented by swinging the nozzle 24 out of alignment when the blow mold travels thereunder or by interposing a deflector between the end of the nozzle 24 and the blow .mold 3 or by discontinuing the expulsion of vapor while the blow mold I against such surface before blowing and omitting the step of cooling the blank mold in the manner previously described. The extent to which the exterior surface is crackled may be controlled and varied to some extent by regulating the quantity of vapor admitted to the blank mold and the extent -to which the interior surface is crackled may also be controlled by regulat-' ing the quantity of vapor admitted to the interior of the blanks 7.

I do not desire to limit my invention to the use of water and air because other liquids may be employed and other methods of atomizing liquids are well known and can be employed in lieuof the air jet previously described.

From the foregoingdescription, it will be obvious that my invention provides a novel method of crackling glassware which does, not involve the use of engraved molds 'or the duplication of designs and which is adaptable to mechanical and automatic methods of manufacturing glassware.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimus:

1. The method of manufacturing crackled glassware which comprises pressing a blank and impinging atomized water against a surface thereof before such blank is shaped to final form.

2. The method of manufacturing crackled glassware which comprises pressing a blank, directing atomized water against a surface thereof and then shaping such blank to final form.

3. The method which comprises forming a glass blank, crackling the interior surface thereof and then blowing said blank.

4. The method which consists in forming a glass blank having a crackled exterior sur: face, crackling the interior surface thereof and then blowing said blank. r

5. The process of manufacturingcrackled glassware which comprises forming a blank in a cooled metal faced mold, transferring said blank to a blow mold, crackling the interior surface of said blank and then blowing said blank to form an article.

6'. The method of manufacturing crackled glassware which comprises directing moisture-laden air into a blank to a degree sufiicient to produce a crackled inner surface on the blank and then shaping said blank to final form.

7. The methodof producing crackled ware which comprises throwing a fluid against the blank of a quantityand quality to produce crackling in the finished article and withoutchanging 'the temperature of the blank to degree that will prevent proper shaping thereof.

8. The method of producing crackledware which comprises pressing and subjecting the blank to a fluid of a quantity and quality to produce crackling in the finished article and without changing the temperature of the blank to a degree that will prevent proper shaping thereof.

9. The method of producing crackled ware which comprises throwing streams of moisture laden air against the blank of a quantity and quality to produce crackling in the finished article and without changing the temperature of the blank to adegree that will prevent proper shaping thereof.

10. The method of producing crackled ware which comprises throwing a fluid in the form of a spray againsta blank of a quantity and quality to produce crackling in the finished article and without changing the temperature of the, blank to a degree that will prevent proper shaping thereof.

11. In combination with aglass shaping machine, means for subjecting the blank while heated to a crackling medium. of a quantity and quality to produce crackling in the finished article and without changing the temperature of the blank to a degree that will prevent proper shaping thereof.

12. In combination with press and blow apparatus, means for producing a blankto be blown, means for blowing the blank, and means for subjecting the blank before blowing to a crackling medium of a quantity and quality to produce crackling in the finished article and without changing the temperature of the blank to a degree that will prevent proper shaping thereof.

13. In combination with" press and blow apparatus, means for producing a blank to be blown, means for blowing the blank, and means for throwing a fluid against the blank before blowing of a quantity and quality to produce crackling in the finished article and without changing the temperature of thev blank to a degree that will prevent proper shaping thereof.

14. In combination with a glass shaping machine, means for throwing water upon the glass blank tov produce crackling in the finished article and without changing the temperature of the ,blank to a degree that will prevent proper shaping thereof.

15. In combination with a machine for slia in lass rece tacles means for sub-- jccting the interior of the glass receptacle during progression. of the shaping of said receptacle to a crackling medium. of a quan tity and quality to produce crackling in-the finished article and without changing the temperature of said receptacle to adegree that will prevent proper shaping thereof.

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

DAVID L. MIDDENDORF. 

